The 2013 Marion County Fair: Something for Everyone!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The 2013 Marion County Fair: Something for Everyone!
by Joanne Cram
The Marion County Fair kicks off next week (July 12-18), and fair planners promise a new experience for fair-goers this year. With six different grandstand events to choose from and a great midway lineup, all ages of fair fans will find something to enjoy this year!
Chairman of the Fair Committee, Dan Findley, has a new vision for the fair. Voted onto the Marion County Fair Board two years ago, Findley has made progressive changes to the fair for 2013. Dan says that he wants a fair that the WHOLE county can be proud of. He wants a fair that every county member enjoys and can spend at least one day at, and to give them a reason to want to come visit the Marion County Fair.
This vision has been supported with some of Dan’s ideas over the winter. He opened up the fair committee to public input and involvement, asking for ideas and input to help make the fair a more patron friendly environment. He heard from the county-wide community, and the biggest desire was for a better, more family friendly midway atmosphere, including a clean and safe carnival and food vendors.
More of Dan’s ideas to grow the fair included getting community organizations involved, such as The Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and church groups to name a few, to gain community-wide investment in the fair. Fair sponsorship is also new in 2013, partnering with businesses and their associates to buy into fair ownership.
The carnival is an area that Dan hopes will draw bigger crowds as well. With only about ten to choose from in the whole state, finding one that is family friendly, clean, yet safe, has been a challenge over the years. Dan is confident that this year’s carnival staff will be a vast improvement to the Marion County Fair. It’s not the biggest carnival in the state, but fair-goers can be sure they will feel safe and appreciate the cleanliness this year. There will be typical carnival type rides, as well as blow up rides to choose from.
In addition to the carnival, the midway will have several food vendors offering a variety of choices to snack your way through the fair. From BBQ, to a taco wagon, funnel cakes and corn dogs, you can find something that will appeal to your appetite. Fair folks will even find a slushie and fruit smoothie stand to slurp on as they wander through the Dyer Hudson exhibits.
One of this year’s most exciting additions to the grandstand lineup is the concert performed by Hairball! This 80’s revival band will help the best of fair goers relive their youth (or find a new favorite song for those under 20!) while delivering energetic 80’s hairband favorites. Cost of tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids before the show (kids 5 and under are free), or $20 and $15 respectively the day of the show, which is 7:00 pm, Friday, June 12th. Bring a camp chair so you can sit in comfort at the Knoxville Raceway infield to watch the show. This is an all ages concert, appropriate for everyone.
This year’s fair sprint car race also has a new surprise for the 2013 fair. Race fans 19 and under are absolutely free! Come out and support your favorite 305, 360, or 410 driver and bring your kids, neighbor kids, and friends!
Come back on Sunday for an all day fun-filled fair day. At 9:00, there will be a farmers market in the infield of Knoxville Raceway with many vendors offering fresh produce, flowers, crafts, foods, and baked items. Later that night, fair fans can catch the lawn mower enduro at 7:00 pm.
Monday offers the Bill Riley Talent Search to be hosted across the fairgrounds at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. Many local talents from across Marion County have qualified to enter the show.
The Rodeo returns to the Marion County Fair this year as well on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm in the infield once again.
Wednesday and Thursday round out the grandstand entertainment with a focus once again on fast cars: The Car and Motorcycle Cruise Night and Ugly Pickup Contest Wednesday night starting at 6:00, and the Harris Clash Modified Race Thursday night at 7:00.
Those interested in viewing an up to date schedule of fair events can go to www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
There is literally something for everyone this year at the 2013 Marion County Fair! Come out and support our great county and the people who work so hard to make Marion County a great place to live, visit, and be entertained!
Fair admission is free, grandstand event tickets can be purchased at the ticket office. Carnival ride admission will be sold at the midway.
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